Product Line Manager

Summary

Join the African Leadership University (ALU) as their Product Line Manager and lead the design, development, and implementation of learning products for ALU's online programs. You will be responsible for creating a strategic product roadmap, ensuring user-centric design, overseeing product implementation, and managing stakeholder relationships. This role requires a Master's degree, 5+ years of experience in online higher education, and strong project management and communication skills. You will champion innovation, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision-making to enhance the quality and accessibility of ALU's online learning experiences. The successful candidate will contribute to the University's mission and strategic plan, working collaboratively with cross-functional teams to achieve operational excellence and financial sustainability.

Requirements

• A Master’s degree preferably in fields related to instructional technology, education, business, product management, learning design, or the like
• A minimum of 5 years progressive experience in online learning in the context of higher education
• Familiarity with Learning Experience Design methodologies, particularly in support of competency-based education
• Strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion
• Ability to navigate uncertainty and ambiguity and the confidence to adopt an experimental and iterative approach finding new and creative ways of addressing student support needs
• Project management skills, particularly strong work planning, prioritization and stakeholder engagement and management
• Excellent written, verbal communication, and presentation skills

Responsibilities

• Contribute to and champion the product vision to align the University's mission, goals, and strategic plan
• Develop and maintain a product line roadmap for ALU Online programs that prioritises initiatives based on user needs, business value, and feasibility
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis relevant to the higher education ecosystem in which ALU’s online programs would operate
• While collaborating with the institutional quality assurance team, spearhead the accreditation or reaccreditation of online programs in Rwanda and Mauritius
• Deeply understand user needs for the online programs target market through user research, surveys, and data analysis, representing the voice of students, faculty, and staff
• Advocate for user-centered design to ensure products are intuitive, accessible, and meet user expectations
• Oversee the Measurement, Assessment, and Continuous improvement strategy for the ALU online program lines
• Lead the product line(s) implementation lifecycle
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, as appropriate
• Help to define the product requirements and specifications
• Manage product implementation backlog and prioritize features with respect to online learning programs
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders, including senior leadership, faculty, staff, and students
• Effectively communicate product vision, strategy, and progress
• Facilitate stakeholder alignment to ensure everyone is on the same page regarding product priorities and goals
• Research and negotiate partnership agreements as appropriate in support of a rapid, effective, and financially sustainable delivery solution for online programs
• Define key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure product success and track progress toward goals
• Analyze product data and user metrics to identify areas for improvement and inform product decisions
• Communicate product performance to stakeholders
• Foster a culture of innovation by encouraging experimentation and exploring new ideas
• Stay up-to-date with emerging technologies
• Continuously improve products based on user feedback, data analysis, and market trends
• As with all staff, the Product Line Manager will be expected to participate in institutional service, such as serving on committees, participating periodically in outreach activities, engaging in professional development and company retreats, and the like
• Ensure the safety and well-being of all young persons and vulnerable adults with whom we deal, by adhering to ALU’s comprehensive safeguarding policy, maintaining a zero-tolerance approach to any violations of safeguarding standards

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional education or substantive experience in online competency-based education
• Experience in UX design or learning experience design for online learning
• Experience managing direct reports or interns
• Tech savviness: ability to quickly learn to use new technologies, software and tools
• Experience working at a higher education institution in Africa
• Experience working in a startup environment
• Based in the Central African Time Zone +/- one hour